The Kartli Kingdom

Hundreds of thousands of Georgians fled their homes in the disputed region of Abkhazia following the 1993 war. With hardly any shelter available in the country, many sought refuge in vacant government buildings. One such place was the former Kartli sanatorium, named after Georgia’s famed historical kingdom. Around 200 families settled there, believing their stay would be only temporary.

Three decades later, they’re still living there, in increasingly wretched conditions. A steadily widening crack is literally splitting the building in two. With the lights of Tbilisi twinkling in the distance, their dreams quietly fade in their “palace.” Any hope of returning to their birthplace seems lost.

This observational documentary records their struggle for a dignified life, but especially highlights their personal lives in the building, aided by home videos of weddings and birthdays. Leaving the building is inevitable, and highly desirable for most, but it will still mean being uprooted all over again.